Motion graphics make companies stand out and keep viewers engaged with dynamic text, animated imagery, and smooth transitions. But how can you make motion graphics that will hook the audience in a snap and make them want to share it online? Here, we’ll show you how to make social media videos like a pro by dissecting the components, recommending resources, and sharing best practices.
What leads to a video going viral? There’s more to it than luck. It’s psychology. Emotion, relatability, and shareability are the three main factors that cause something to go viral.
Whether it’s shock, anticipation, or comedy, viral videos seem to elicit strong emotions. Emotion is a powerful attention-getter that keeps viewers engaged for longer. Motion graphics take it a step further by adding emotive animations, dynamic typography, and color psychology to heighten the emotional effect. Animations that move quickly provide a sense of urgency, while those that move slowly and smoothly convey a sense of tranquility.
Audiences relate more strongly to content that is based on real-life scenarios. Whatever people are already acquainted with tends to captivate them, whether it’s a hilarious anecdote, an uplifting narrative, or a popular meme. When you add motion graphics to your film, it becomes much easier to visualize abstract concepts. Whether it’s an animated reaction, an emotive character, or even just a bouncing emoji, it adds a personal touch.
If a video is interesting, unexpected, or educational, people will likely share it. Motion graphics boost shareability by simplifying messages and transforming complex concepts into visually captivating formats. This is the reason why viral content from businesses like Duolingo and Nike has dynamic typography, animated infographics, and high-energy transitions.
Okay, now we have a good idea of what makes a video viral, but how can you use these insights in your work? Motion graphics aren’t only there to provide aesthetic appeal; they are a tremendous attention-getter and riveter. If you want to increase the likelihood that your video will go viral, let’s dissect some easy methods to use these ideas.
Every motion graphic is unique. Using the right format can elevate your message to new heights, while an incorrect approach might make your material seem out of place or even distracting. Each of the many kinds of motion graphics has its specific function in online videos shared on social media.
The ideal way to simplify difficult concepts into easily understandable visuals is via an explainer animation. This style draws in and educates viewers, making it ideal for product demos, how-to guides, and brand launches. The use of explainer animations has helped businesses like Slack and Dropbox reach a wider audience by demystifying their products.
Kinetic typography, sometimes known as text animations, is a means to make static words seem more alive. Promotional videos, inspirational articles, and social media ads all benefit from this approach. Even on mute, the combination of rapid-fire text and striking transitions holds the audience’s attention. Kinetic typography is commonly used in the marketing arsenals of tech companies like Nike and Apple.
Using 3D motion graphics makes content seem more premium and immerses the viewer in the experience. Brands in the electronics, automotive, and luxury industries often use this style to portray an air of refined innovation. Consider Samsung’s usage of high-quality, realistic 3D animations in its commercial advertising. These ads include smartphones, foldable screens, and other cutting-edge technologies.
Creating a unified brand identity that speaks to your target demographic is more important than focusing just on visual appeal when selecting a motion graphics style. In the next section, we will discuss how to combine these aspects to create viral videos with lasting impact.
In the lightning-fast social media landscape, your video’s first three seconds play a major role in capturing viewers’ attention and keeping it. High retention rates are prioritized by platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, which means that having a solid opening will increase exposure and interaction. The goal of a compelling hook is not only to attract viewers’ eyes; rather, it is to pique their interest and keep them engaged through intense curiosity.
If you want to make an impression quickly, motion graphics are your best bet. Bold text animations allow you to convey a question, a remark, or a shocking truth. Quick cuts, glitch effects, or rapid zoom-ins are all examples of dynamic transitions that may give your viral video a more energetic and stimulating vibe. Unexpected motion changes or eye-catching visuals are examples of surprise elements that can stop scrolling patterns and engage the audience.
A fitness brand’s ad can start with “You’re Doing Push-Ups Wrong!” in big, animated letters before cutting to a professional showing the audience how to do the exercise correctly.
A tech company could unveil a new gadget with an eye-catching countdown animation. An immediate connection may be established only by an animated figure breaching the fourth wall and speaking straight to the audience.
The goal, regardless of the strategy, is to engage viewers immediately on an emotional or intellectual level. A video could go viral if the correct motion graphics are used to transform a casual scroller into an interested viewer.
The secret to making a video go viral isn’t just pretty graphics but rather a story that people can’t put down. Motion graphics are a great way to organize your film to draw in the audience, keep things moving forward, and highlight important points.
Viewers are captivated by videos that are well-structured and follow a logical progression from beginning to end.
Viewers are compelled to stay on the page after a powerful introduction. Get people’s attention right away by using powerful text, eye-catching transitions, or an intriguing inquiry in the first few seconds.
Keep the audience’s attention by synchronizing the images with the natural cadence of the speaker’s voice or the music in the background. Do your best to keep the narrative moving by using seamless transitions and avoiding abrupt cuts.
Finish with a clear call to action, whether it is to share, like, or visit a website. At this stage, motion graphics may draw focus using attention-directing animations, such as an animated arrowhead leading to a subscribe button.
People tend to tune out videos that move at a snail’s pace. If it moves too quickly, important information is lost. The most effective viral videos achieve a perfect symphony of rhythm and pace by skillfully using transitional effects, speed ramps, and fade-ins. Key moments, such as a beat drop, a dramatic pause, or an engaging message, may be animated with the use of motion graphics.
Since a lot of popular videos go viral even without music, dynamic typography is essential for conveying ideas. Important elements are highlighted with bold, animated text, which aids with recall. Infographics take large amounts of data and figures and transform them into visually appealing representations that are easy on the eyes.
Your videos will be more captivating, shareable, and memorable if you include motion graphics with compelling storytelling. Your message will be more than simply seen — it will be shared — if you use the correct structure, timing, and visuals.
If you have the correct tools, making captivating motion graphics isn’t hard at all. If you’re just starting and need something fast to post to social media, try Canva or Adobe Express. Both include easy drag-and-drop interfaces with pre-made animations.
For those seeking more control, Adobe After Effects is the go-to program for professional-grade motion design, while Premiere Pro makes it easy to edit videos with transitions and other motion effects. For experts dealing with complex compositions and 3D components, there are alternatives, such as Blender and Da Vinci Resolve.
We Design Motion provide pre-made templates and presets, that you can customize on your own, to help you save time and effort.
Making a high-quality motion graphics viral video is just the beginning; getting the word out is the real challenge. Instagram and TikTok are more popular in the evenings and on weekends, although LinkedIn and Twitter are more effective during the weekdays. Post when your audience is most engaged to maximize engagement. In addition, be sure to tailor your videos for each platform by changing the duration, aspect ratio, and subtitles to suit your audience’s preferences.
A lot of the credit for increasing exposure goes to trends, hashtags, and collaborations. To make your posts more discoverable, include both popular and specialty hashtags, and don’t be shy about teaming up with other influencers and companies in your field to promote each other. Taking advantage of popular trends, such as challenges or remixing videos, may also help your video reach more people.
Keep in mind that engagement is the root cause of virality. To promote replays and conversations, respond to comments, request that viewers share, and use polls or question and answer stickers. Platforms will promote your video to more people if it receives a lot of comments and likes.
Even top-notch motion graphics might fall short if certain oversights are made. Here are some frequent hazards and ways to address them.
The trick to using motion graphics to make a video go viral is to just start trying. Don’t stress about trying to be flawless; even the most famous creators have developed their unique style over time. Try out various animation styles, tempos, and narrative approaches to see what works best for your target demographic.
Your turn now! Put yourself to the test by making a quick motion graphics film and posting it online. Use popular hashtags, tag your favorite artists, and see the reaction. The more you make, the better you will get, so get moving and show off your work!
